Episode 367
by CristaeEpisode 367
It was rare for Duke Ikaldoren to lose his temper so shamelessly like this.
Even when angry, the Duke’s way was to prepare a dagger internally and stab quietly, rather than showing it outwardly.
The main reason the Duke erupted in anger like this—even though the knights’ constant provocations today played a role—was because Lee Han drove him into suspicion and paranoia.
No matter how cold and rational the Duke was, he couldn’t help himself when his mind was filled with fear and confusion.
“This is odd.”
“What is?”
“I’ve never heard of Duke Ikaldoren behaving so emotionally.”
Giselle tilted her head beside him.
“A lot of rumors aren’t true. The Duke is more emotional and petty than you think.”
“Is that so?”
Giselle was honestly surprised.
Both words Wardanaz just used seemed like the least applicable to Duke Ikaldoren.
But Wardanaz would never make a mistake about this kind of thing…
“Perhaps His Grace is so angry precisely because he cares about the students that much.”
Rowena added.
As far as Rowena could see, there was no other particular reason.
Giselle also seemed to agree, thinking she wasn’t entirely wrong.
“He wouldn’t get that angry just because of some commotion at his estate.”
“Ah, right. He’s incredibly sensitive about the royals.”
“…?”
Rowena, who was listening beside them, felt something odd.
It was Lee Han and his friends who had dueled with the knights, not Adenart.
So the Duke was angry because Lee Han was offended, not because the princess was provoked, wasn’t he?
“F… Forgive us, Your Grace.”
It appeared the knights of the Beechwood Knights had only now fully realized the situation.
The Duke had been generous, which led to their misjudgment, but the gap in strength between them and the Duke was like a firefly and a full moon.
It didn’t matter if the opponent let things slide, but if he decided to swing his sword, there was nothing they could do.
“Why did you mistake the date and come in? Did you think so lightly of your promise?”
“Tr… truly, we didn’t know. It wasn’t intentional!”
“Is that so? Are you saying my judgment was wrong? That you’re in the right?”
“That’s not what I meant…”
“Otherwise, shut up! If you act arrogantly one more time, I’ll cut you down right here!”
“……”
The Duke’s rebuke was so harsh that even a knight of the White Oak Knights was flustered.
They had wanted the Beechwood Knights to be humiliated, but hadn’t imagined it would be this severe.
“Lord Wardanaz. Is there any way to calm His Grace’s anger?”
“Pardon?”
Lee Han looked at the knight as if wondering what kind of nonsense this was.
A person like Duke Ikaldoren was throwing a fit, so what could Lee Han possibly do?
Lee Han wasn’t even close to the Duke to begin with. Even if Lee Han pleaded, ‘Please calm down,’ it was more likely the Duke would snap, ‘Who are you to speak out of turn?’
“There’s no way such a thing could…”
“I… is that so.”
“…Come to think of it, there is a way.”
“!”
The knight’s eyes widened as he whispered.
“What is it?”
“But, do I really have to save them when those knights caused so much trouble?”
At that, the knight glared at the apprentice knights.
How can knights be so loose-lipped…
“I won’t deny we were disrespectful. But they are fellow knights I served alongside. I can’t just abandon them.”
‘Why does it feel like good people always suffer losses in the world?’
Looking at the White Oak knight, Lee Han thought of Deorgyu.
The White Tiger Tower guys would cause the trouble, but it was Deorgyu who had to clean it up…
“If you tell me a way, I will surely reward you.”
“!”
Lee Han hadn’t thought much of it, but didn’t expect such a response.
Normally he might have accepted gold coins, but Lee Han had a conscience.
He knew what kind of knights the White Oak Knights were, and had owed them before. He wasn’t cold-hearted enough to squeeze money from them.
“Then let me borrow your sword just once in the future.”
“Do you need protection?”
“Something like that.”
“That much I can easily do.”
The knight accepted readily.
Asking to borrow a knight’s sword was actually not such an easy request.
What if Lee Han requested something as serious as killing someone?
But the knight trusted Lee Han.
Given the character he had shown before, and from what Bikelinz had said, Lee Han was not someone who would ask for anything dishonorable.
‘I should use this during the swordsmanship lecture next semester.’
Professor Ingeldel would never imagine that a White Oak Knight was already being bought off.
And the same went for the knight himself.
“But what’s the method?”
“Watch.”
Lee Han stepped out confidently.
The Beechwood knights couldn’t even breathe under the Duke’s anger, but Lee Han was sure of his hand.
Not because he was especially brave or disrespectful of the Duke, but because he had a special card to play.
“Your Highness, please come here.”
“??”
Adenart, who had been standing and watching, hesitated for a moment, not sure what Lee Han meant by this.
But thinking there must be some reason, she approached.
“Your Grace, please calm yourself.”
Lee Han spoke up in a clear voice for all to hear.
‘He’s someone who falls completely for anything the royal family says—if I use the princess as an excuse, it’ll always work.’
If it sounded like the princess wanted to show mercy or forgive, the Duke would have no choice but to acquiesce.
“Your High…”
“…Yes. That was a bit harsh.”
“???”
No sooner had Lee Han begun speaking, Duke Ikaldoren stopped his anger and regained his composure.
The princess tilted her head beside him.
“Uh, no, I…”
“Their insolence was egregious, and I couldn’t help but lose my temper even at the students I invited. Right. I should leave it at this. I apologize to everyone for spoiling the pleasant occasion.”
The Duke quickly made amends and left his seat. The attendants and servants, unable to anticipate his reaction, were startled and hurried after him.
“…?”
Lee Han didn’t understand why the Duke was behaving that way.
Truly, he was the most eccentric and temperamental person Lee Han had ever met.
‘At least he’s not a magic school professor.’
Of course, the Duke, in his confusion about Lee Han, thought there might be some trap and so quickly withdrew—but Lee Han had no way of knowing that.
“Am… amazing!”
The White Oak knight blinked in wonder.
He hadn’t doubted Lee Han when he said he had a way, but hadn’t imagined it would be so miraculous.
He calmed the Duke’s anger with just a word.
How on earth?
“How did you do it?”
Lee Han was also curious, but didn’t show it.
Instead, he slipped by with a meaningful smile.
If he didn’t explain, the other would interpret it on their own.
“I’m really glad it wrapped up well.”
“Indeed.”
As Lee Han and the knight walked away, the princess stood still and looked at their backs in astonishment.
Why did you even call me over for this…?
- * *
The students returned to the banquet hall and chatted about what had happened.
“Lee Han, be careful. Knights are sneaky and persistent—they might try to get revenge someday for tonight.”
“That’s right, Wardanaz. Knights are all underhanded and evil.”
“……”
Students from White Tiger Tower glared at Gainando and Salko for their words.
When were we ever like that!
‘Did the White Oak Knights manage to smooth things over?’
Curious, Lee Han opened the banquet hall doors and stepped into the hallway.
Unlike the noisy and lively students, the knights who had caused a huge scene were surely feeling gloomy…
Still, somehow things had been resolved—he was sure it had been handled.
Lee Han decided to check and see how things turned out, and while at it, ask if they planned to join Einrogard for the second semester.
The outstanding students always prepared and previewed classwork during vacation.
“!”
Lee Han was startled to see Giselle coming out. Giselle wore a similarly surprised expression.
“Don’t tell me…”
“You as well?”
“Yeah.”
“…You really are something. I have to admit.”
Giselle threw up her hands in surrender.
The reason Giselle had come out was to become acquainted with the knights.
Especially in the case of the Beechwood Knights—even though they’d caused a big problem before the Duke, they were still influential among the knightly families because of their wealth.
With a family like Moradi, which frequently interacted with other knightly families, there was nothing to lose by getting friendly.
People tend to feel more grateful to those who reach out to them when they’re down on their luck than when things are going well.
This was exactly one of those moments.
“You’re impressive, Moradi.”
“Don’t say things you don’t mean.”
“No, I’m serious. Trying to get intel on next semester’s classes ahead of time… The other White Tiger Tower guys could learn from you.”
“…What? Hey, wai—”
While Giselle protested in confusion, Lee Han said his piece and walked ahead.
He had no desire to be interrupted by Giselle and get delayed.
“!”
But before they could walk far, they noticed people lingering near the hallway pillar.
It was the Beechwood Knights.
They were clearly loitering as if waiting for someone—very suspicious.
‘No way!’
Lee Han quickly recalled what Gainando and Salko had said before.
“They’re already waiting to take revenge? That’s as petty as it gets—so much for knightly honor!”
“What? Revenge?”
Giselle was flustered.
No matter how humiliated the Beechwood Knights were, it wasn’t like they’d lost their minds enough to challenge the Duke’s pardon and cause trouble at his estate again.
“There’s no way they’d do that.”
“Didn’t you also say the White Oak knight wouldn’t help me, Wardanaz?”
Giselle was lost for words at Lee Han’s retort.
This jerk, how dare he switch up family names as he pleases…
“If you’re so sure, you lead the way, Wardanaz.”
“I’ll admit you’re right, just stop messing with my family’s name, you crazy…”
While they bickered, the Beechwood Knights spotted them first.
As the knights approached, Lee Han stopped arguing and gripped his staff.
“Damn, not enough time to cast enhancement spells! I’ll summon undead—fall back! I’ll use fog to buy us time!”
Giselle was curious how someone in the same year could already summon undead and cover the field in fog, but instead of asking, she gripped her twin swords.
Lee Han’s attitude was so serious she unconsciously went along with him.
Later, she’d wonder, ‘Why did I go along with that?’—but when someone spoke seriously like Lee Han, most people couldn’t help but be swayed.
“I’ll hold them off up front, so focus on your spells. Got it?!”
“Moradi, you’ve finally gotten a conscience…!”
“Focus on your magic, you bas—”
“Thanks!!!”
“???”
“???”
The Beechwood Knights bowed politely and spoke in unison.
“We were too out of sorts earlier and lost the chance to thank you. Once again, truly, thank you.”
“……”
Giselle quietly sheathed her half-drawn swords and glared at Lee Han as if to kill him.
Lee Han whispered without changing his expression.
“Might still be a trap, you know.”
“Shut up.”
Having no idea what the misunderstanding was, the knights continued.
“We reflected on our actions. We behaved shamefully. Yet you were still willing to stand up for us…”
It was hard to believe these were the same men who swaggered into the banquet earlier.
If this were Einrogard, you’d suspect it was the skull principal’s magic at work.
“I can’t believe it.”
Lee Han muttered.
“People don’t change that quickly. Why are they acting like this? Is this a trap?”
“……”
Giselle honestly agreed with Lee Han.